One of the sport’s most successful managers, Egis Klimas, was in Cardiff today with IBF Super Featherweight World champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov ahead of his first title defence against Joe Cordina.
Klimas also conducts business for heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and many other world title holders from the East. Boxing fans have all been talking about the heavyweight tournament, floated by Skill Challenge Entertainment, that hopes to take place in Saudi Arabia by the end of the year. Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua are the ambitious line up for the project.
Klimas spoke exclusively to ProBox TV News to give his view on the tournament touted for the Middle East.
“It is a long way from happening.” Klimas said. “But, you know things can happen. Money talks. There are a lot of different broadcasters and promoters and stuff like that to deal with. It won’t be easy, but if it is going to happen, we will be glad. If it is not going to happen then we will fight whoever comes out for it.”
The very public Fury-Usyk negotiations turned sour quickly over social media, eventually bringing an end to the much desired heavyweight super-bout. December is a long way away from a fighter’s perspective, Usyk also has three separate mandatory challengers to think of.
“Right now we have a mandatory for Daniel Dubois with the WBA.” Klimas added. “We are finishing negotiations and will go and have that fight. I’m expecting it to take place at the end of July or the beginning of August.
“Everybody wants that undisputed fight with Tyson Fury, but right now we are talking about the WBA mandatory.”